an order of insects that comprises butterflies and moths
on echinacea in my garden
The name Lepidoptera, derived from the Greek words "lepido" for scale and "
swallowtail on my butterfly bush
According to the Natural History Museum of London, over the last 250 years, scientists have identified and named between 112,000 and 165,000 species of butterflies and moths (although some sites put their total numbers much lower). 
at Krohn Conservatory Butterfly show 2010
I searched the internet for what a group of butterflies is called and came up with:lek
swarm
rabble
flutter
flight
kaleidoscope
at Krohn Conservatory Butterfly show 2013
According to this Smithsonian website, butterflies are classified into the following 6 families:Hesperiidae--skippers
Lycaenidae--blues, hairstreaks, coppers
Nymphalidae--brush-footed
Papilionidae--swallowtail
Pieridae--yellows and whites
Riodinidae--metalmarks
at Krohn Conservatory Butterfly show 2013
Do you remember my post with the butterfly on the young girl's nose? Onlookers were enthralled! This guy transferred the butterfly from her nose to his!
LINKS:
Butterflies and Moths of North America
Butterfly Corner links to butterflies of the continents of the world
Butterfly Workx, a commercial butterfly farm-- species information links and identification guides
Butterfly Rescue International
The Butterfly WebSite with links to blogs, articles, and more
North American Butterfly Association
Adrienne's posts:
finding caterpillars
raising caterpillars
MY BUTTERFLY POSTS:
Krohn Conservatory several photos at beginning of post
July first and last photos
photos by me © 2010 and 2013 all rights reserved
I love it! A flutter of butterflies -- perfect!
ReplyDeleteAwesome pics -- that ravishing caterpillar is pretty even if it is eating its way through your dill!
What beautiful photos! I never seem capable of capturing winged creatures in pictures.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos, again!
ReplyDeleteWe are seeing so many more butterflies this year than in years past. I love to sit on the lawn with my head back to watch the butterflies and dragonflies.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. We have the hairy butterflies here in Holland. I thought they were moths at first. Glad to hear they are Lepidos. xo Jenny
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! We have lots of those caterpillars here too and I plant things especially for them such as parsley, dill, cilantro and fennel. I just mix it in amongst the flowers. They gobble it up.
ReplyDeletecute caterpillar and nice macro shot!
ReplyDeleteStunning captures! Great detail and bokeh.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing photos...such beauty in each one!
ReplyDeleteThese are stunning! And that is amazing about the butterfly that was transfered from one nose to another :)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a collection of butterflies being called kaleadascope
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to show your blog when I get to insects in the spring. Just gorgeous photos.
ReplyDeleteIn awe of your skill! Lovely pics. Really lovely.
ReplyDeleteExquisite photography!
ReplyDeleteExquisite blog!
Hope you're having a lovely week!
Great photos! What pretty colors, beautiful butterflies, I really like!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I can't bear to look at caterpillars, I am always in awe of the beauty that comes to be the wings of butterflies. Lovely post (but, I did close my eyes and pass the squirmy wormy caterpillar quickly!)
ReplyDeleteInteresting facts about butterflies...and BEAUTIFUL photos!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are absolutely gorgeous !
ReplyDeleteOoh, I like the notion of calling a group of butterflies a kaleidoscope! It is so much more descriptive than "swarm". :). And I am totally jealous of your swallowtail caterpillar! I planted dill just hoping to see it devoured by these and haven't had one!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links to my butterfly posts!
Wow!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely lovely...
...and fascinating!
I've always been a fan of the transformation into beauty...
My children used to tag monarch butterflies when they were young!
Such a wonderful post!
Thank you for sharing it!
Hugs and A+++
Stunning captures! Athenianaire, one of my blog sponsors, makes jewelry out of real lepidopterans, bought from conservation farms after natural death.
ReplyDelete♥ aquariann
Featured Photo: Fuchsia Flower
The orange and yellow in the top photo are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love this informative post! Some of the butterfly photos reminds me of a recent painting of mine of a Monarch on Asclepius.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and enjoying my painting process on my Bicycle Rider. Hope that you drop by again to see my New Adventure series now in progress!
I wish there were more butterflies here in Saskatchewan. They are few and far between in seems. So pretty.
ReplyDeletexo Catherine